Casting All Your Care

What does it mean to give it to God? It might mean to stop trying to control a particular outcome (become passive), or to stop caring about it (become apathetic), resigning ourselves to the inevitable. But passivity and apathy aren’t virtues.

Identifying areas of personal responsibility, gaining clarity about who and what we are supposed to control, and learning how to control that, is evidently key. (1Co 9:27)

Wisdom teaches us we’re to control ourselves, (Pr 25:28) not others (1Pe 4:15), and to rest in God’s sovereign control of everything (including ourselves). (Ro 11:36)

It is also important to care, to be concerned for the welfare of others (1Co 12:26) even if we can’t control the circumstances. We may be able to influence an outcome by properly directing our own behavior (Ti 3:8), but the result is always in God’s hands. (Ja 4:15) However, we shouldn’t worry or be anxious (Php 4:6); in light of God’s sovereignty, worry is practicing the unfaithfulness of God: it’s a lack of trust in God’s goodness. (Is 26:3)

If we’re experiencing worry, fear or anxiety, we’re either not properly controlling ourselves to influence an outcome for which we’re responsible (Ro 12:11), or we aren’t resting in God to order the outcome for our good and for His glory. (Ro 8:28) In either case, God can help us with wisdom (Pr 13:23) and diligence to plan and work as we should (Pr 22:29), to discretely manage our affairs (Ps 112:5), and teach us how to cast all our remaining cares upon Him. (1Pe 5:7)

If we’re becoming frustrated in a given situation, we’re either trying to control something we shouldn’t, or we haven’t developed the necessary wisdom, maturity and discipline to control ourselves as we should. In either case, God can help us realign our expectations with reality and teach us how to walk in great peace and wisdom, not in frustration. (Ps 37:37)

If we’re being responsible and wise, seeking God’s kingdom and praying about everything, His peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ. (Php 4:6-7)

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